SECURING STRAP
A strap, for example for securing an accessory to a frame tube of a bicycle, comprises a band 2 of a resiliently extensible material which is provided with a buckle 8. The buckle 8 has an opening 14 through which a tail end 6 of the band 2 can be passed. An outer bar 17 of the buckle 8 defines an edge of the opening 14. A prong 18 is fixed to the outer bar 17, and can be engaged with any one of a series of holes 10 in the band 2 when the band is flexed over the outer bar 17 and pulled taut. The prong 18 has a contact surface 26 which is profiled to define a notch 34, 38 which serves to inhibit accidental slippage of the band 2 from the prong 18.
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This invention relates to a securing strap, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with a securing strap for securing articles to the frame of a bicycle.
BACKGROUNDBikepacking is a popular leisure pursuit which often involves multi-day touring on a bicycle, often an off-road bicycle such as a mountain bike. Everything needed for touring is carried on the bicycle or by the rider. Because bikepacking usually involves off-road cycling, anything carried by the bicycle must be securely attached to avoid movement relative to the bicycle frame, which can cause instability and can potentially bring the carried load into contact with the bicycle wheels, the pedal mechanism or the rider.
A variety of security straps are available for securing accessories, such as cargo packs, to frame members of a bicycle, such as Velcro straps and different kinds of straps incorporating buckles. A known strap is available under the name Voile, and comprises an elastic band provided with a series of holes along its length, and having a buckle at one end. The buckle has an opening for receiving the opposite end of the band, and a prong, extending outwardly of the buckle in the direction away from the band, over which one of the holes of the band can be fitted. The strap can thus be formed into a loop extending around a component such as a bicycle frame tube, and tensioned by stretching the band to engage the prong with an appropriate one of the holes.
The strap can be attached to accessories such as water bottles and cargo packs to enable them to be fitted to the frame tube. Alternatively, the strap can be provided with suitable mounting devices for attachment to accessories.
When such straps are used by cyclists, skiers and other users who may be wearing gloves, it is important that the strap can be tensioned and secured reliably by the gloved hand. Also, when the strap is used to secure an accessory to a bicycle frame tube, it is desirable for any projection from the strap to be minimised, to avoid contact with the rider. Any interference with the cycling motion of the rider is annoying, and furthermore can abrade the rider's clothing or skin.
SUMMARYAccording to the present invention there is provided a strap comprising a band of resiliently extensible material having a head end, a tail end, and at least one hole between the ends, the head end being provided with a buckle comprising a buckle body having a prong which is fixed to the buckle body and which projects outwardly of the buckle body in a direction away from the head end of the band, the buckle body also having a slot for receiving the tail end of the band, the slot being situated between the head end of the band and the prong, whereby the tail end of the band can pass through the slot and the band can be flexed to engage the prong in the hole to retain the band in a secured condition in the buckle, the prong having a contact face directed away from the slot, the contact face having a concave notch which receives an edge of the hole when the band is in the secured condition.
The contact surface may comprise a first flat section and an adjacent concave transition section which define the notch. The contact surface may also comprise a second flat section extending from the transition section in the direction away from the first flat section.
The first and second flat sections may be parallel to each other, or alternatively the first and second flat sections may be inclined to each other, for example at an angle of not less than 50° and not more than 60°.
The first flat section may be inclined to the plane of the buckle, for example by not less than 50° and not more than 65°.
The buckle may have first and second openings which are separated from each other by a bar. The second opening may constitute the slot. The band may have an enlarged head which is retained within the first opening to secure the band to the buckle.
The slot may be closed by an outer bar on which the prong is fixed.
The outer bar may have contact surfaces extending away from the prong and sloping downwardly in the direction away from the prong. The contact surfaces may be inclined to each other by an angle of not less than 186° and not more than 210°.
The hole may be one of a plurality of holes distributed along the band, the holes being selectively engaged by the prong.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a bicycle having a frame tube to which is secured a strap as defined above. An accessory may be secured to the frame tube by the strap.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The strap shown in
The band 2 has a head end 4 and a tail end 6, and a buckle 8 is fitted to the head end 4. The buckle is made from a relatively rigid material (compared to that of the band 2), such as a Nylon, for example Nylon 6-6 with a UV additive. Alternative rigid materials, such as other plastics or composite materials or metal alloys could be used. A series of holes 10 are provided in the band 2.
The buckle 8 is of generally rectangular form comprising a frame 11, which surrounds first and second openings 12, 14 separated by a central bar 16. A prong 18 projects from an outer bar 17 of the frame 11 and extends away from the second opening 14.
As shown in
The prong 18 has upper and lower surfaces 24, 26 (with respect to the orientation shown in
The rectangular frame 11 of the buckle 8 has a concave lower surface 30 which meets a flat transition surface 32 of the outer bar 17. The transition surface 32 connects the lower surface 30 of the buckle 8 to the lower surface 26 of the prong 18. The lower surface 26 has a first flat section 34 which is connected to a second flat section 36 by a concave transition section 38. The second flat section merges into the convex end surface 28.
The first and second flat sections 34, 36 are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel, by which is meant that they are inclined to each other by a few degrees, for example less than 5°. The flat sections 34, 36 are offset from each other by a distance of not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 2 mm, for example by 1.0 mm. The general plane of the frame 11 of the buckle 8 is indicated in
In the specific embodiment shown in
In the condition shown in
The free section 40 is turned over the outer bar 17 and contacts the upper surfaces 60, 62. The relative inclination of the upper surfaces 60, 62 of the outer bar 17 has the effect of flexing the strap 2 into a shallow arch shape about its lengthwise axis. This induces a curl into the free section 40 about an axis parallel to the centreline of the frame tube around which the strap is wound. This in turn cause the free section 40 to assume the condition shown in
In some circumstances, the projecting prong 18 may interfere with moving parts of the bicycle, or of the rider. For example, if the strap is used to secure a cargo pack to the top tube of the bicycle, the prong 18 may project sufficiently to contact the rider's thigh during pedalling. If it is impractical to avoid this by rotating the strap 2 about the axis of the frame tube, the alternative buckle shown in
Like the buckle 8 of
As shown in
As with the embodiment of
Although the invention has been described in the context of the attachment of accessories to bicycles, it will be appreciated that straps as described with reference to
Claims
1. A strap comprising a band of resiliently extensible material having:
- a head end,
- a tail end, and
- at least one hole situated between the head end and the tail end,
- the head end being provided with a buckle comprising a buckle body having a prong which is fixed to the buckle body and which projects outwardly of the buckle body in a direction away from the head end of the band, the buckle body also having a slot for receiving the tail end of the band, the slot being situated between the head end of the band and the prong, whereby the tail end of the band can pass through the slot and the band can be flexed to engage the prong in the hole to retain the band in a secured condition in the buckle, the prong having a contact face directed away from the slot, the contact face having a concave notch which receives an edge of the hole when the band is in the secured condition.
2. A strap as claimed in claim 1, in which the contact surface comprises a first flat section and an adjacent concave transition section which define the notch.
3. A strap as claimed in claim 2, in which the contact surface comprises a second flat section extending from the transition section in the direction away from the first flat section.
4. A strap as claimed in claim 3, in which the first and second flat sections are substantially parallel to each other.
5. A strap as claimed in claim 3, in which the first and second flat sections are inclined to each other at an angle of not less than 50° and not more than 65°.
6. A strap as claimed in claim 2, in which the first flat section is inclined to the plane of the buckle.
7. A strap as claimed in claim 6, in which the first flat section is inclined to the plane of the buckle by not less than 50° and not more than 65°.
8. A strap as claimed in claim 1, in which the buckle has first and second openings which are separated from each other by a bar, the second opening constituting the slot.
9. A strap as claimed in claim 8, in which the band has an enlarged head which is retained within the first opening to secure the band to the buckle.
10. A strap as claimed in claim 8, in which the slot is closed by an outer bar on which the prong is fixed.
11. A strap as claimed in claim 10, in which the outer bar has contact surfaces extending away from the prong and sloping downwardly in the direction away from the prong.
12. A strap as claimed in claim 11, in which the contact surfaces are inclined to each other by an angle of not less than 186° and not more than 210°.
13. A strap as claimed in claim 1, in which the hole is one of a plurality of holes distributed along the band, the holes being selectively engaged by the prong.
14. A bicycle having a frame tube to which is secured a strap comprising a band of resiliently extensible material having:
- a head end,
- a tail end, and
- at least one hole situated between the head end and the tail end,
- the head end being provided with a buckle comprising a buckle body having a prong which is fixed to the buckle body and which projects outwardly of the buckle body in a direction away from the head end of the band, the buckle body also having a slot for receiving the tail end of the band, the slot being situated between the head end of the band and the prong, whereby the tail end of the band can pass through the slot and the band can be flexed to engage the prong in the hole to retain the band in a secured condition in the buckle, the prong having a contact face directed away from the slot, the contact face having a concave notch which receives an edge of the hole when the band is in the secured condition.
15. A bicycle as claimed in claim 14, in which an accessory is secured to the frame tube by the strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2023
Publication Date: Oct 19, 2023
Applicant: TAILFIN LIMITED (Bristol)
Inventors: Nicholas BROADBENT (North Somerset), Robert PHILLIPS (Bristol)
Application Number: 18/299,329